Grain bin

ABSTRACT

A grain drying and storage bin comprising structural elements providing a floor and ceiling and walls extending generally vertically therebetween to define a space for receiving grain, and at least one divider disposed in the space to extend vertically therein from a point adjacent the floor to a point adjacent the ceiling to divide the space into a plurality of generally vertically extending grain cells, each grain cell having a limited lateral width. Each divider extends across the grain receiving space to provide opposite vertically extending side edge or end edge portions adjacent, respectively, opposite sides or ends of the bin. Each divider is defined by a pair of vertically extending side walls spaced apart to provide a vertical air space therebetween extending transversely across the grain receiving space between adjacent grain cells. The side walls of the divider are formed primarily by a mesh material through which the air circulates to dry the grain in the cells.

Arnold Oct. 21, 1975 1 GRAIN BIN [76] Inventor: Alvin Arnold, R.R. No. 7,

Martinsville, 1nd. 46151 [22] Filed: Oct. 25, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 518,042

[52] US. Cl. 98/55; 34/168; 34/174 [51] Int. Cl. E04l-l 7/00 [58] Field of Search 34/174, 165/168, 175,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,762,019 6/1930 7 land] 98/55 2,209,073 7/1940 Cowin 98/55 2,474,199- 6/1949 Lechthaler et al.... 34/174 9/1974 Lenz 34/174 Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Assistant Examiner-James C. Yeung Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William R. Coffey Ellis 34/174 [57] ABSTRACT A grain drying and storage bin comprising structural elements providing a floor and ceiling and walls extending generally vertically therebetween to define a space for receiving grain, and at least one divider disposed in the space to extend vertically therein from a point adjacent the floor to a point adjacent the ceiling to divide the space into a plurality of generally vertically extending grain cells, each grain cell having a limited lateral width. Each divider extends across the grain receiving space to provide opposite vertically extending side edge or end edge portions adjacent, respectively, opposite sides or ends of the bin. Each divider is defined by a pair of vertically extending side walls spaced apart to provide a vertical air space therebetween extending transversely across the grain receiving space between adjacent grain cells. The side walls of the divider are formed primarily by a mesh material through which the air circulates to dry the grain in the cells.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures grain. Not only-is the energy usage expensive'and timeconsuming, a considerable amount of the feed value of the grain is lost because of the deleterious effect of the heated air upon the grain.

angle irons 22, may rest'upon and extend longitudinally .along the footings while other such structural members 24 may extend between the footings as illustrated to.

provide means for fastening the framework of the-bin to the footings. Each illustrative bin 12', 14, which may be identical, includes-four corner posts 30, 32, 34,36

extending vertically upwardly to be connected together at theirupper ends by cross braces-38, 40 and at their lower ends by floor joists 42, 44, 46, 48. A plurality of On the other hand, if wet grain or grain havinga high moisture content is merely dumped into a conventional storage bin, the grain will very often spoil..

It is my invention, therefore, to provide a grain drying .Land storage binjconstructedsuch that air is circulated naturaliy through the grain to dry the grain over a period of time and to'prevent spoilage of the grain. Particularly, it is my concept to provide a grain drying and storage bin which'comprises, within the space defined 'by the bin, a plurality of dividerswhich serve to divide the space into a plurality of generally. vertically extending grain cells, each cell having a limited lateral width such as, for instance, 18 inches. Each divider is constructedto provide an air passageway through the bin, for instance, 6 inches wide and extending from a point adjacent the floor to a point adjacent the ceiling. The grain is held out of these passageways by a screen wire support posts 52, ,as needed, .support the floor joists uponthe footings. I 1 I t The floor of each bin includes. a left-hand. portion 56 sloping toward the center'and asimilar right-hand portion 58' slopingtowardthe center. I placean unloading auger 60 in the center of the floor to extend frompthe front side of the bin to-the rear side of the binto unload the grainltherefrom as indicated by the arrow 62 'in mesh which may be, for instance, a 3/16 inch wire mesh.

' The ends of the dividers or the ends of the air passageways therethrough are open to the atmosphere outside the bin and the bin may be placed such that the open ends of the passageways face the normal wind direction. This provides for natural air movement through the divider air passageways.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent as this description progresses.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodi'edi'n the form illustrated'in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes'may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of two grain drying and storage bins in accordance with the present invention connected together under one roof structure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and reduced in scale; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a divider FIG.--2..A plurality:ofstuds 68, as needed,.extend between the floor joists and theupperbraces to provide structural strengthand to support a roof structure indi- Cated' generally at comprising rafters 72 and roof panels 74. The eaves of the roofstructure may preferably be defined primarily by a wire screen mesh material 76 which provides for air circulation. I Thestructural means discussed thus far is merelyillustrative, and it will be appreciated that bins in accordance with the presentinvention may be constructed using many different types of structural elements connectedtogether in many'different vways..

Therefore,-my invention is a grain drying andstor'age bin comprising structural means providing a -floorz-and .ceiling and wall means extending generally vertically therebetween to define a space for-receiving grain, with at least one divider disposed inthe space to extend; vertically thereinfrom a point adjacent the floor to apoint adjacent the ceiling to divide the 'space into a plurality of generally vertically extendinggrain cells. Each divider extendsacross the space of the grain bin to-provide opposite, vertically extending side-edge portions adjacent, respectively, opposite sides or ends ofthe: bin. Each divider is defined by a pair of vertically extending side walls spaced apart to provide a vertical air space therebetween extending across the grain receiving space between adjacent grain cells, the side walls being formed primarily by a mesh material through which. air circulates to dry the grain in the cells.

"In the illustrative embodiment, each bin 12, 14,.includes three such dividers 80, 82, 84. Assume that ,the left-hand end in FIG. 2 is the front-end of the bin while the right-hand'end is the rear end. The illustrative dividers 80, 82, 84 extend from the. front end to the rear end of the bin .or,,transversely across or through the I grain receiving space of the bin to divide the bin into grain cells 86, 88, 90, 92.

Each illustrative divider (FIG. 3) may preferably be constructed by welding or otherwise securely fastening together a plurality of steel rods to provide a rectangularly shaped hollow. framework covered by a screen mesh material which may be welded or otherwise securely fastened to the framework. Each divider, therefore, has parallel, spaced apart side walls defined primarily the screen inesh m'ateriai with a sufficient space between the side walls indicated at 112, 114 (FIG. 2) to provide for air circulation through the dividersandconsequently through the bin.

The dividers 80, 84 may be supported a few inches above the floor portions 56, 58 by legs indicated at sO-that the grain can flow thereunder 'whil'ethe-divider 82'may be supported above' the auger 6010 permit'operation'of the auger; v a g The'side edges or end edges o f'the dividers indicated at80a, 82a'; 84'a'm'ay lie in the -same-general plane as 'thefront" and rear wall'means'of the-bin l2 and the 'froht and 'r'ear w'all meansimay comprise vertically extending perforated panels 130', the *panels terminating, respectively, at the side wa lls l l2yll4 of the" dividers such that the divider 'a'ir spaces are-opento' the" atmosphere outside the bin. The front andir'e'ar' walls of the bins l2, l4'may include vertically extending s't'uds(not shown)- adjacenteach divider side wall and to'whi'ch the'panels l30'are fastnedJSiniila-rpanels'l32 may-exte'nd'betweeu th -studs 68 on-the side wallsof'thexbins. The panels are perforated to permit: some air circulation therethrough; The 'prim'ary me'ans' of circulating air '-through' the bin' and' through the grain 'stored'in thebin "is through th'edividers 80, 82"," 84. Assume that the bin islocat'edon' the farm such thatthe' right-hand end- 'as' viewed in FIG. 2 is facing the normalwind direction.

'Thewind forces air into the end of the dividers as indicated by the arrows 136 to flowthrough'the -dividers and through the sidewalls of the dividers as indicated I by. the' a'rrow-s 138 'to drythe grain'in the cells 86, 88,

90, 921* This air movement-coupled with the laterally narrow grain cells will dry'thegrain and prevent any dama'ge resulting fmm inordinately'wet grain being placed in the-ceils. -.1 1

For-illustrative purposes, [shall now provide overall 'dirnensi'ons' of the-bin 12"toestablish the :manner in nwhich'thegra'in dryingwill occur. The heightiof the bin, of'course,tmay-be optional to provide economy of con- 'str'uctio'n." For instanceg a height of feet would be reasonable and adepth or distance from the frontew'all to the' rear wall of 20 feet would besatisfactory. Each grain'cell may be only lfeetwide, i.e., the'dist;ance betwee'n'the divi'd'ers may-beonly' l-w feet'. Thediswith a "3/l-6'inch screen wire mesh. .1 I Thus, at no point in the bin 12 will any kernel of grain "be inorethan 18 inches from an air passageway, 'and most of the grain, 'particularly=the grain'between the'di- "viders 80, '82 and the d'ividers'82, 84 will be less than 9 inches away from an air passageway; While the drying may occur at amuch slower rate than the" forced drying -practices"presentlybeing used, the'grain will not spoil because of the close proximity of theair passageways to the grain.

In this application and its intended to refer to shelled corn-or any. other small grain or legumes such as-s'oybeans. g

It will further be appreciated that the perforated panels 130, 132 may be replaced by wire' mesh screens to provideeven more air circulation;

' lclaimz" 1. grain drying a storage bin'comprising structural means providing a sloping floor having a low point: to which the g'rain flows by gravity and a ceilingsand wall means extending generally verticallytherebetweem to define a space 'forreceiving grain, andatvleast one divider disposed in said space to extend vertically therein claims, the term fg'rain is are perforatedsheets ofmaterial through whichair cirframework 4 from a point adjacent'and 'sp'acd upwardly from said flooriptof'a pointadjaceht said-ceiling to divide said space into'aplurality of generally vertically extending grain cells; saidupw'ard-spa'cing of said divider allowing 'removal'of giai'iifrom said bin at said low point on said sloping floor, each divider extendingacross'said space to piovide opp'ositevertically "extending side edge portiohsadjac'nt,"respectively,opposite sides of said bin,

:e'a'c'h dividr'being defined by a pair'of vertically extendiiig'sidewalls" spaced apart to provide a vertical air space threbet'weenextending transversely across said I grain receiving space between adjacent grain cells, and "said sidewalls being'foi'med primarily'by a mesh material through which"th 'air ciiculates't'o dry the grain in sai if cells.

" The invetitioirof'clairn l-in which each said divider includes a'pliirality"of 'rods rigidly connected together providing a"framework having said sidewalls, said 20 ffr'a'rnework' sidje wall's beingc'overed 'with'said mesh mate'rial. t y i 3. The invention of claim 1 in whicheach said grain c ell hasoppos ite ends adjacent, respectively, said opjposit'e sides of saidi'bii'i and s'aid wall means of said bin includes \ierticallyexten'ding panelmeans covering the endsof said "grain'cellsfsaidpanel means terminating, respectii ly, atthesidewalls of the said side edge oi: 'tiori s of said dividers sii'ch' that's'aid divider air spaces are ope n't'othe atmosphere outside said bin. {The invention of claim 3 in which said panel means m tes-"f a I The invention of claim in which each said divider includes a' plurality of r ods rigidly connected together providing a framework having said side walls, said rrjai igwddggide iyai sj fei covered with said mesh maf'r'd aiiii's iii which'each said divider includes a pluralit of rods rigidly connectedt'oge'ther providing a frameworlghaving s aidii sidewalls, said side walls being covered with said mesh material.

- .A. st i xi iianii si fb i'iimi ii tural meanspr oviding floor having a lowpoint, a ceil- ,f ng front,wall meansprear wall means, and side wall means defining a spacej fo'r receivinggrain, and a plurality of dividers disposed in said space to extend verticallytherein front 1 a,, pointadjacent said floor to a point adjacent said ceilinglt o divide saidspace into a plurality of generally vertically extending grain cells, each dividerextending. across said space from said front wall means tosaidrear wall means, each divider being defined by a pair ofvertically extending side walls spaced apart to provide a vertical air space therebetween extending from thefrontto the rear of said space between adjacent grain cells, said floor sloping toward said low pointtocause the grainto flow for unloading purposes,

said dividers being supported on legs above said floor wto permit the grain to flow thereunder, and said side ,wallsibeing, formed.. p rimarily by a mesh material throughswhich theair circulates to dry the grain in said i s l t 8. The

invention of claim 7 whicheach said divider includes a pluralityof ,rods rigidly connected together .providing a framework. having; said side walls, said --framework side walls being. covered with said mesh material 9. The invention of claim 7 in which said front and I air spaces are open to the atmosphere outside said bin.

rear wall means include vertically extending panel I means covering the front ends and rear ends of said 10. The invention of claim 8 in which said dividers include divider sections fastened-togeth provide said divider air spaces.

er in said bin to a 

1. A grain drying a storage bin comprising structural means providing a sloping floor having a low point to which the grain flows by gravity and a ceiling and wall means extending generally vertically therebetween to define a space for receiving grain, and at least one divider disposed in saId space to extend vertically therein from a point adjacent and spaced upwardly from said floor to a point adjacent said ceiling to divide said space into a plurality of generally vertically extending grain cells, said upward spacing of said divider allowing removal of grain from said bin at said low point on said sloping floor, each divider extending across said space to provide opposite vertically extending side edge portions adjacent, respectively, opposite sides of said bin, each divider being defined by a pair of vertically extending side walls spaced apart to provide a vertical air space therebetween extending transversely across said grain receiving space between adjacent grain cells, and said side walls being formed primarily by a mesh material through which the air circulates to dry the grain in said cells.
 2. The invention of claim 1 in which each said divider includes a plurality of rods rigidly connected together providing a framework having said side walls, said framework side walls being covered with said mesh material.
 3. The invention of claim 1 in which each said grain cell has opposite ends adjacent, respectively, said opposite sides of said bin and said wall means of said bin includes vertically extending panel means covering the ends of said grain cells, said panel means terminating, respectively, at the side walls of the said side edge portions of said dividers such that said divider air spaces are open to the atmosphere outside said bin.
 4. The invention of claim 3 in which said panel means are perforated sheets of material through which air circulates.
 5. The invention of claim 4 in which each said divider includes a plurality of rods rigidly connected together providing a framework having said side walls, said framework side walls being covered with said mesh material.
 6. The invention of claim 3 in which each said divider includes a plurality of rods rigidly connected together providing a framework having said side walls, said framework side walls being covered with said mesh material.
 7. A grain drying and storage bin comprising structural means providing a floor having a low point, a ceiling, front wall means, rear wall means, and side wall means defining a space for receiving grain, and a plurality of dividers disposed in said space to extend vertically therein from a point adjacent said floor to a point adjacent said ceiling to divide said space into a plurality of generally vertically extending grain cells, each divider extending across said space from said front wall means to said rear wall means, each divider being defined by a pair of vertically extending side walls spaced apart to provide a vertical air space therebetween extending from the front to the rear of said space between adjacent grain cells, said floor sloping toward said low point to cause the grain to flow for unloading purposes, said dividers being supported on legs above said floor to permit the grain to flow thereunder, and said side walls being formed primarily by a mesh material through which the air circulates to dry the grain in said cells.
 8. The invention of claim 7 in which each said divider includes a plurality of rods rigidly connected together providing a framework having said side walls, said framework side walls being covered with said mesh material.
 9. The invention of claim 7 in which said front and rear wall means include vertically extending panel means covering the front ends and rear ends of said grain cells, said panel means terminating, respectively, at the side walls of said dividers such that said divider air spaces are open to the atmosphere outside said bin.
 10. The invention of claim 8 in which said dividers include divider sections fastened together in said bin to provide said divider air spaces. 